Injector fluid metering device



y 1970 L. l. BARNES 3,521,672

INJECTOR FLUID METERING DEVICE Filed June 19, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Lam I. Barnes BY W a ATTORNEY July 28, 1970 l L, 1, BARNES 3,521,672

INJECTOR FLUID METERING DEVICE Filed June 19,. 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Lam l. Barnes ATTORNEY y 8. 1970 L. I. BARNES 3,521,672

V INJECTOR FLUID METERING DEVICE Filed June 19, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheep 5.

INVENTOR Lam I. Barnes ATTORNEY United States Patent M 3,521,672 INJECTOR FLUID METERING DEVICE Lant I. Barnes, 116 Commercial St., Garland, Tex. 75040 Filed June 19, 1%7, Ser. No. 647,104 Int. Cl. E03b 7/07 U.S. Cl. 137-565 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for injecting a first fluid and a second fluid in metered increments into the cylinder of a reciprocating pump comprising an inlet check valve in a line leading from a source of first fluid to the cylinder; an outlet check valve in a line leading from the cylinder; and a supply of second fluid under atmospheric pressure connected through a control valve to the inside of the chamber whereby the first fluid is drawn through the inlet check valve and the second fluid is drawn through the control valve in controlled quantities into the chamber on the suction stroke of the pump to mix the first fluid with the second fluid so that the mixture of first and second fluids is discharged through the outlet check valve on the compression stroke of the pump.

A device for mixing fluid wherein a selected fluid or fluids are metered in selected increments into another fluid to mix same therewith, which in the preferred form illustrated herein, includes a metering valve having an entry port communicating with a supply of fluid to be mixed with another fluid or fluids and an outlet port having a check valve positioned therein openable in the direction of flow through the outlet port. A conduit connects the check valve with the piston chamber of a pump. The injector valve for many applications can be mounted directly on pump head or one injector valve on either or both heads of the pump. A manifold accommodating multiples of injector valve may be used for certain applications. The piston chamber of the pump is connected to a supply of fluid which is being transferred by the pump using in doing so its intake and exhaust valves. The entry conduit into the cylinder head of the pump is controlled by an inwardly opening check valve on the intake stroke and the outlet conduit therefrom is controlled by an outwardly openab-le check valve on the discharge stroke. On the vacuum stroke of the pump the check valve positioned in the outlet passage of the metering valve is opened to draw fluid into the piston head and mix same with the fluid being transferred by the pump. On the pressure stroke of the pump the check valve positioned in the outlet passage from the metering valve is closed and the mixed fluid is ejected by the pump piston through the outwardly opened check valve in the piston head. Means is provided for adjusting the opening through the metering valve to the outlet passage to thereby regulate the amount of fluid metered therethrough in response to demands of the pump. The metering valve may either be solenoid operated or manually operated to control the flow therethrough.

In many domestic and industrial applications it is desirable and necessary to inject one or a multiplicity of fluids into another fluid to mix same in desired proportion.

Various types of valve mechanisms and controls have been devised for measuring quantities of fluids injected into another fluid, but same have not been wholly satisfactory because such systems have not been automatically controlled by the demand therefor, and due to variations in orifice sizes, restrictions in flow and for other reasons it has been difficult to regulate and control the desired mixture of fluids.

3,521,672 Patented July 28, 1970 The present invention contemplates the metered injection of one fluid or fluids into another and mixing same in response to the exact demands for the fluid as it is transferred by a pump, and thereby not only provides the exact proportion of mixture as desired, but conserves injected fluid in that it is injected and mixed only in response to demand therefor.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the invention to provide means for regulating and controlling the amount of fluid or fluids injected into another fluid or fluids in response to the demands for injection of said fluids.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means for metering and controlling the injection of one or more fluids into another fluid or fluids in exact amounts desired and required.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means to inject a fluid or fluids into a pumping system for another fluid wherein the injected fluid or fluids is drawn into the pumping system on the vacuum stroke of the pump wherein it is mixed and transferred by the pump, upon the pressure stroke of the pump, which also automatically closes off the communication with the supply of injected fluid so that fluid is only injected into the system as the fluid being transferred is being drawn into the pump.

One of the uses of the injection valve arrangement hereinafter disclosed is in injecting liquid detergent and wax into washing water as it is supplied under pressure through a pump to orifices in the spray heads of a car washing device or other like cleaning mechanism. However, it will be understood that the device hereinafter described can be employed in any application where it is desirable to meter and mix a fluid or fluids into fluid transferred through a pump in response to the demands therefor.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent upon reading the detailed specification hereinafter following and by referring to the drawings annexed hereto.

Suitable embodiments of the invention are shown in the attached drawings wherein,

FIG. I is a side elevational view partly in section showing a typical illustration of the manner of use of the metering injector valve combination in metering and mixing one fluid with another,

FIG. II is a cross-sectional elevational view of the metering and injection valve combination wherein is employed a solenoid valve in conjunction with a check valve positioned in the outlet port of the valve,

FIG. III is a transverse sectional view taken on the line III-III of FIG. II,

FIG. IV is a cross-sectional elevational view, partially in elevation, taken on the line IV-1V of FIG. II, and

FIG. V is a cross-sectional elevational view of a modified form of metering and injector valve combination wherein a hand operated valve is employed.

Numeral references are employed to indicate various parts shown in the drawings and like numerals indicate like parts throughout the various figures of the drawings.

The numeral 1 indicates a conventional pump which includes a base 1a. The pump also includes a piston head 2 having a piston 3 reciprocally movable therein.

The crankshaft 4 is rotated by suitable power connected thereto and has a crank arm 5 thereon which is pivotally connected to the lower end of a connecting rod 6. The connecting rod 6 is pivotally connected at its upper end at 6a to the piston 3 so that as the crankshaft 4 is rotated the piston 3 is moved upwardly and downwardly in the piston chamber 2.

An intake line 7 is connected to a fluid supply which is transferred by the pump 1. The intake line 7 communicates with the piston chamber 2 through an intake check valve 8. The check valve 8 is arranged to open against the spring therein when the piston 3 moves downwardly on the vacuum stroke of the pump.

A discharge line 9 is connected in communication with the piston chamber 2 through an outwardly opening check valve 10 so that upon the outward movement of the piston 3 on the pressure stroke of the pump the valve 10 is opened against the spring therein to allow the discharge of fluid through the discharge line 9 from the piston chamber 2. On the pressure stroke of the pump the valve 8 is closed cutting off communication between the piston chamber 2 and the intake line 7.

An injector conduit 11 is connected through the fitting 12 and passage 13 in communication with the piston chamber 2.

The injector line 11 is also connected to the outlet passage of the injector valve assembly 14 (hereinafter described) through a supply line 16 to the container 15. The container contains liquid which is injected in metered quantities by the metering and injection valve 14 into fluid transferred by the pump 1, in the manner hereinafter described. Line 11 and its fittings may be eliminated and check valve body 48 of injector valve 14 may be mounted directly into passage 13.

The metering valve assembly 14 includes an outer cylindrical casing 17 which has a cover 17a thereon.

The valve body 18 supports the casing 17 on an annular shoulder extending thereabout. The coils 19 for actuating the solenoid of the valve as hereinafter described are supplied with electrical power through electric leads 20 which extend through a port 21 through the wall of the casing 17.

A solenoid support 22 has a threaded portion extending through an opening centrally of the cover 17a about which is threadedly engaged a nut 23 to retain same therein.

The lower end 24 of the support 22 is enlarged and is threadedly engaged at 24a to the valve body 18.

A seal ring 25 is clamped between the lower end 24 of the support 22 and the upper face of the valve body 18 to provide a seal between the adjacent surfaces thereof.

The valve stem 26 is the movable core of the solenoid which includes the coils 19, and stem 26 is drawn upwardly when the coils 19 are energized by electrical current.

The valve stem 26 is urged outwardly of the bore by a spring 27 which is positioned in a recess 28 provided centrally of the valve stem 26 and in a recess 29 in the upper end of the bore 30.

A resilient head 31 is provided on the lower end of the valve stem 26 which is arranged to engage and seat against the valve seat 32 provided at the upper end of the valve passage 33.

A chamber 34 is provided about the valve seat 32 with which communicates the angular passages 35 extending between the inlet passage 36 and the chamber 34.

A fitting 37 is threadedly engaged in the inlet passage 36 and is connected to the supply line .16.

An adjustment screw 38 has a screw driver adjustment slot 39 on the outer end thereof, and has an O-ring seal 40 thereabout which slidably seals against the inner surface of the bore 42 extending through the Wall of the body 18. The bore 42 intersects the valve passage 33 and lateral outlet passage 46.

An enlarged head 41 is provided on the adjustment screw 38. The adjustment screw 38 has a reduced diameter 43 thereon and is terminated by a threaded end 44 which is threadedly engaged in the threaded bore 45, there being adjustment space between the end of the threaded bore 45 and the threaded end 44 of screw 38.

It will be seen that the screw 38 may be rotated inwardly and outwardly on the mating threads on the end of the screw and in the bore 45 so that the enlarged head 41 may be moved inwardly to a position where it will close communication between the valve passage 33 and lateral valve seat passage 46 or it may be moved to a position where the reduced diameter 43 is across the passages to allow flow thereabout. By adjustment of the screw 38 inwardly or outwardly the volume of flow through the valve passages 33 and 46 may be accurately adjusted.

A resilient valve seat 47 is provided about the valve passage 46 and a valve body 48 is threadedly engaged by mating threads 56 in the outer end of the valve chamber 49 provided in the body 18.

A check valve ball 51 is urged against the seat 49 by a spring 52. The spring 52 extends through a passage 48a provided centrally through the valve body 48 and extends into a bore 53 provided centrally of the outer end of the body 48.

A chamber 481) in the body 48 communicates with a plurality of ports 54 provided through the end of the body 43 which in turn communicate through a fitting 54 with the injector line 11. Thus, there is provided an outwardly opening check valve in communication with the valve passage 33. The check valve described may take different forms than that specifically disclosed. For instance, it could be made as an integral part of body 13, if desired.

A screw 56 is threadedly engaged to the outer surface of the body 18 and the head thereof overlaps the outer end of the passage 42 to limit the outward movement of the adjustment screw 38 in the passage to prevent same from becoming unthreaded therefrom.

The operation and function of the embodiment hereinbefore described is as follows:

The container 15 contains fluid such as liquid detergent to be injected into fluid being transferred by the pump 1. The solenoid valve 14 may be connected to suitable automatic or manual electrical controls so that it may be automatically opened periodically by time control equipment or it may be opened continuously while the pump 1 is in operation.

If the valve 14 is opened by movement of the stem 26 off the seat 32 and the pump is in operation, the downward movement of the piston 3 on the vacuum stroke of the pump will draw the check valve 51 off the seat 47, thereby drawing fluid from the container 15 through the valve 14 into the piston chamber above the piston. At the same time the fluid being transferred by the pump is drawn through the line 7 and open check valve 8 into the pump cylinder and mixes same with the detergent or other fluid drawn from the container 15.

On the pressure stroke of the pump the piston 3 moves upwardly in the chamber 2 thereby closing the check valve 8 and opening the check valve 19 to force fluid from chamber 2 through the discharge line 9. Thereby the detergent or other fluid is mixed with the fluid being transferred by the pump and discharged in mixed state. It will be noted that injected fluid from the container 15 is only mixed with the fluid being transferred on the vacuum stroke of the pump and is closed off from communication with the chamber 2 on the pressure stroke of the pump.

The volume of injected fluid 15 injected at each injection cycle may be accurately adjusted by the adustment screw 38.

In the modified form shown in FIG. V a manual injection valve is employed which includes a valve body 57 which has a chamber 58 therein communicating with the piston chamber such as that indicated at 2.

An inlet passage 59 to the body 57 communicates with a fitting 60 threadedly engaged in the inlet passage. The fitting 60 may be connected to injection fiuid supply line, such as that indicated at 16.

A conical valve seat 62 provides communication between the inlet passage 59 and the chamber 58. A conical valve head 63 is carried by the lower end of the threaded valve stem 64. The valve stem 64 is threadedly engaged in a threaded passage 65 provided through the fitting 66 which in turn is threadedly engaged by companion threads 67 in the upper end of the valve body 57. A cap 68 is threadedly engaged about the upper end of the fittings 66, and the upper end of the valve stem 64 passes through a packing 69 and central passage 68a provided through the upper wall of the cap 68.

An operating handle 70 is provided on the upper end of the valve stem 64 whereby the valve stem may be rotated to move the valve head 63 downwardly or upwardly into or out of engagement with the seat 62 to thereby close or open said passage by moving the valve head 63 toward or away from the seat 62, the volume of flow through the valve seat passage may be controlled.

A lateral opening 71 is provided through the wall of the body 57 and a resilient seat 72 is provided about the opening 71.

A check valve ball 73 is urged against the seat 72 by a spring 74. Other types of check valves may be employed with either form of this invention.

The valve body 75 has threads on the outer surface thereof and is threadedly engaged at 76 in the lateral outlet passage to the body 57. The valve body 75 is interiorly threaded as indicated at 77 to threadedly receive a spring support and valve port body 78. The body 78 has a plurality of annularly spaced passages 78 therethrough communicating with the outlet passage to the valve body 57, and has a central passage 81 therethrough. The spring 74 is seated in the bore 81 provided in the body 78.

A fitting 55 is attached to the outer end of the body 75 in communication with the injection line 11. Therefore, it will be seen that on the vacuum stroke of the pump as hereinbefore described, the valve ball 73 will be drawn off the seat 72 to allow injection fluid to be drawn through the passage 59, valve seat passage 62, through the port extending through valve seat 71 into the piston chamber 2 to mix injection fluid with the fluid being transferred by the pump. On the pressure stroke of the pump the check valve 73 will be closed thereby preventing the injection of fluid from container into the piston chamber.

The tension of spring 74 may be adjusted by screwing the body 7 8 inwardly or outwardly to adjust the spring pressure on the valve ball 73. Thereby the opening of valve 73 and thus the supply of injection fluid may be adjusted.

Various modifications may be made in the structure hereinbefore described and still come within the scope of the appended claims.

For instance, a plurality of the valve assemblies 14 or modified assemblies as shown in FIG. V could be modified for attachment in communication with the pump cylinder so that selected numbers of diflerent fluids could be injected into the fluid being transferred and mixed therewith, either by manual manipulation of the valves as shown in FIG. V or by automatic or manual electrical controls to actuate selected solenoid valves to permit injection of one or a plurality of fluids.

It will be understood that other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised, and that the scope of the invention is only limited by the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. 'In a device of the class described, a fluid transfer pump having a piston chamber with a piston reciprocably movable in the chamber, and inlet and outlet check valves communicating with the chamber and supply and discharge conduits respectively; an injection fluid supply under atmospheric pressure; conduit means between the fluid supply and the chamber; a control valve in said conduit means controlling flow therethrough; and a check valve in said conduit means between the control valve and. the chamber arranged to open outwardly from the control valve to allow fluid flow from the control valve to the chamber.

2. The combination called for in claim 1 wherein the control valve is a solenoid valve.

3. The combination called for in claim 1 wherein the control valve is manually operable.

'4. The combination called for in claim 1 wherein the control valve has a passage therethrough, and with the addition of means to adjust the opening of the passage through the control valve.

5. The combination called for in claim 1 wherein the control valve has a passage therethrough with an inlet opening and an outlet opening, and wherein the check valve in the conduit means between the control valve and the chamber is secured in the outlet opening to said control valve.

6. The combination called for in claim 1 with the addition of means to adjust the opening pressure of the check valve in the conduit means between the control valve and the chamber.

7. In a device of the class described, a fluid transfer pump having a piston chamber with a piston reciprocably mounted in the chamber, and inlet and outlet check valves communicating with the chamber and supply and discharge conduits respectively; an injection fluid supply; conduit means between the fluid supply and the chamber; a valve in said conduit means controlling flow therethrough; an outwardly opening check valve in said conduit means between the valve and the chamber; and means to adjust the opening pressure of the outwardly opening chamber is a solenoid valve.

8. The combination called for in claim 7 wherein the valve in the conduit between the fluid supply and the chamber is a solenoid valve.

9. The combination called for in claim 7 wherein the valve in the conduit between the fluid supply and the chamber is manually operated.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,023,843 4/1912 Hall 137-6l4.2 X 2,216,890 10/ 1940 Phillipps 222--133 2,479,620 8/ 1949 Ingham 137524 X 2,634,757 4/1953 Houghton 251-121 2,672,089 3/ 1954 Johnson 222133 3,326,511 6/1967 Hallgreen 251141 X 2,192,141 2/ 1940 McElwaine 137-614.2 X 2,546,258 3/1951 Farrell 137--614.2 X 2,969,088 1/1961 Kramer 137-614.2

FOREIGN PATENTS 917,526 1/1939 Great Britain.

'M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner WILLIAM R. CLINE, Assistant Examiner mg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION July 28, 1970 Patent: No. 3, 521,672 Dated 'Inventofls) LANT I. BARNES It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 6, line 38 cancel "chamber is a solenoid valve." and in lieu thereof insert check valve.

Signed and sealed this 18th day of May 1971.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.F'LETCHER,JR. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

